MBB: NESCAC

[NEhoops]

Where are everyone's preseason NESCAC rankings? Games start in a week!

[nescac1]

I'm about the only one who has been speculating here, so hopefully others will join in.  My best guess:

1. Amherst, 2. Wesleyan, 3. Colby, 4. Trinity, 5. Bates, 6. Williams/Middlebury 8. Bowdoin, 9. Tufts, 10. Conn, 11. Hamilton

Other than the top two and Hamilton last, I don't feel especially confident in these ... I could imagine three through ten shaking out very, very differently.  And I often seem to underrate Bowdoin, so they will probably end up much better than I predict, but I just think that right now so much pressure is on Hausman to generate offense, and teams will make other guys beat them. 

I feel like it's a big now-or-never year for Colby and Trinity, both of whom have tremendous senior classes and dramatic drop-offs in talent behind those groups.  Williams, Midd, and Conn are all young squads building towards the future. 

Speaking of Williams, the Ephs' season preview is out.  Based on the preview, easy to infer four starters: Flynn, Aronowitz, Greenman, and Teal.  Behind Flynn at center are two big frosh who are going to have to learn by playing. Still, unlike last year when the Ephs really lacked size in the post, Williams will at least have three guys 6'9 or bigger to bang and give 18 fouls and hopefully do a good job rebounding. 

The rest of the rotation appears to be fairly wide-open, or at least the coaching staff is holding their cards close to the vest.  Looks like a few of the big, talented frosh forwards will be the primary back-ups at forward, while the second starting guard spot, and back-up spots, are a free-for-all between several veterans and frosh Bobby Casey.  Chris Galvin played the most of that group last year so is likely to be in the mix for early playing time. 

http://ephsports.williams.edu/sports/mbkb/2015-16/releases/20151112myu2sl

[WPI89]

Could get a Colby vs WPI game in Worcester next Saturday. Colby very tough assignment against Staten Island first. Wow what a way for them to jump into the season. Any Colby fans in Worcester on Saturday, let me know.

Cold beer. Great pizza at the Boynton down the hill. I will be there post game.

All provided WPI does not slip up against Curry. 

[JEFFFAN]

Unclear to me why Amherst is ranked number one with only ONE senior, Green.

[NEhoops]

Nescac1, good insight as always. I agree that its hard to be confident in some picks, will be another exciting/crazy year. The top half seems legit, but I could see a lot of movement between three through five.   

1. Amherst - most talented team in league and basically everyone back. It is their conference to lose.
2. Wesleyan - also lost very little to graduation, just slightly behind Amherst from a depth standpoint.
3. Colby - great front line with Stewart coming back. Can they finally get to over .500 in league play?
4. Trinity - good experience from last years tourney run, Stark's is play-maker and they will always defend.
5. Bates - losing Safford will take time to get used to, twins are game changers, but on the road a lot this year.

[magicman]

Duncan Robinson played in his first legitimate Division I game on Friday night. Michigan defeated Northern Michigan 70-44 to open their season. Duncan was the 4th player off the bench which is a step up the ladder from the exhibition game he played in against DII Le Moyne last week. He was the 5th player off the bench in that game or the 10th man in the rotation. That may be attributed to the nice start he had in that exhibition game. Tonight, as the 9th man in the rotation, he entered the game at the 12:16 mark of the 1st half. He played for about a 6 minute stretch. He had 3 defensive rebounds,a steal, a turnover and 1 missed 3 pointer.

In the 2nd half he was the 3rd man off the bench entering the game at the 14:26 mark. He played for a long minute and was taken out. Went back in with 9:16 left in the game and played until the final buzzer. Had an offensive rebound, another turnover and committed a foul. He had a total of 15 minutes of floor time with 4 rebounds and no points. Hard to score when you only take 1 shot and don't get to the line. There will be other nights...lots of them. 

[amh63]

Thanks Magicman!
Caught a few games of big time D1 schools playing lesser known Div1 schools.  These games, IMO, are to see how all those practices, etc. translate on the floor and how players adjust to the new rules, however minor they are.  I watched one where a local team..Mount St Mary...played.. It was not close.  In another, Fairfield from CT was at Un. Of North Carolina.  Fairfield was competative for most of the game, while being smaller and on paper, less talented, etc. 
I believe that in these early games, the coaches want to see how the players "perform" on the defensive side.  In practice, defending against teammates is different than in a actual game situations against strangers so to speak.
I hope as well as suspect that Amherst's first games will see the insertion of the new players.  I hope to see how the combinations of players work out.  Most of all, I hope to see how tough the players are on defense.
Last season, I was most disappointed in the foul shooting of the starters.....too many points was lost on the foul line.  Aaron Toomey often changed the flow of games with his foul shooting, IMO.  Foul shots made...getting fouled on a drive and getting to the line is a part of the game.  Getting the ball back by fouling poor shooters is also a "strategy" in the pros.
Yes, now that CAC football is over, I am watching Basketball games....adjusting my eyes to the game.
First games in the CAC this weekend!!  Using a Roman phrase?..." Let the games begin"

[nescac1]

Thanks magicman, great recap, plus one.  Even in a D3 environment when his talent was dominant, Duncan had to be prodded to shoot the ball.  He is an inherently unselfish player, which is of course generally an asset.  I'm sure the coaching staff at Michigan will keep riding him to be aggressive offensively, because anytime he is open from 25 feet or closer, it's a good shot, something he will need to internalize and I'm sure will as he grows more comfortable in the spotlight. 

Jefffan, why wouldn't Amherst be ranked number one?  They were the best team in NESCAC last year (despite the loss in the NESCAC title game, I think that's fair to say) and bring everyone back, plus add more talent.  They were a frosh-and-sophomore dominated team last year, and are now a sophomore-and-junior dominated team, which is a scary thought for this year, and an even scarier thought for next year.  Colby, Wesleyan and Trinity have the three strongest senior classes, but Amherst has one of the strongest and deepest Junior classes I've ever seen in D3 ... that class alone (George, Nabatoff, Conklin, Dawson, Berman, Racy, plus two other guys we haven't even really seen yet) is by itself probably a top 25 team.  Especially since Berman, Racy, Conklin and Dawson all seemed to really emerge late in the season last year, and Nabatoff and George still have plenty of unrealized upside -- big guys usually don't truly arrive until their Junior years. 

[nescac1]

One interesting addition to the Trinity roster: Langdon Neal, a 6'0 PG who transferred from D1 American (where he was a seldom-used walk-on).  He was POY in the Chicago Independent high school leauge as a senior, and I imagine will bolster their backcourt depth right away.  Trinity figures to be a smaller, quicker team this year, with only one true big guy (Ogundeko) on the roster, and no one over 6'6 (although Ogundeko plays much bigger than his height). 

[Old Guy]

UVM lost in a blowout at Purdue 107-79 last night. Sinnickson played four minutes and had two rebounds, took no shots.

[nescac1]

Matt Hart appears to be in the rotation for GW: he played 12 minutes vs. Lafayatte, with 2 points and 2 boards. 

[amh63]

Jefffan.....want to add a little more to Nescac's post to your question.
Dawson and Conklin are both Div1 transfers....a reverse of the former CAC players moving up. Seems Div 1 players can take time to adjust to a new school too.  Conklin was injured in the first part of the season.  His big body takes up space down low.  Amherst lost a big body type player in Pollack who never did recover from his ACL injuries.  George had no true backup down low last season.  There is hope, I believe, that two freshmen can provide that backup in the front court...the center labeling on the roster.  Amherst does have the assistant coaches to help the team on front court play.
Dawson took a while to find where he could contribute to the team.  He was not the PG needed for the team.  I believe that the freshman from FL. maybe the backup to Berman at PG.
Outside shooters Amherst does have...Green, Racy and Big Nabatoff...others as well...but not as consistent as the ones named.  Outside game prevents teams from packing the inside, etc.
Yes, Amherst has the players and seemly the depth.  Barring injuries....on all the conference teams..it will be a competitive season in conference play.
Wondering if the Three Musketeer motto is appropriate .

[Ryan Scott (Hoops Fan)]

amh63,


You coming to any of the Hoopsville action this weekend?  I'll be there for all eight games.

[magicman]

I have to agree with nescac1's assessment of the Lord Jeffs. They are the pre-season favorites in my book as well. Will be challenged  by Wesleyan and Trinity but the conference is theirs for the taking. amh63 knows his Amherst stuff. The weaknesses the team had last year, which will probably be addressed, and the strengths that they look to possess this year should have them in front at the end of the season and then they'll get home court advantage for the conference tournament. The road for the automatic NCAA bid will run through Amherst, Mass.

Plus K to both posters for all their contributions to this board. 

[amh63]

NEhoops....completely slipped my mind.  Caught up in Amherst's chase for back to back football titles and going undefeated.  Had hoped to make a trip up to Amherst to see the opening tournaments...women and men....and the new players, etc.  wife nixed that since our youngest son will be down with his wife to visit family.
Will check my schedule.....as if a retired old man has a schedule.  Will look you up if I come.  Again hotdogs on me and a drink too